Adaejah T. Hodge 'belongs to all of us'- Premier Wheatley
“She belongs to all of us”
Speaking at the official recognition event held at Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, following a motorcade in honour of the Territory’s Commonwealth Games heroes, Wheatley stressed that athletes represent the entire nation, not one party or faction.
“And let me say this to all the people out there in the Virgin Islands public: There’s something that we have to stop doing here in the Virgin Islands. We have to stop politicising support for our athletes,” the Premier said.
He described Hodge as the Territory’s emerald green hills, its water, and even its financial services industry. “If we had oil, she would be like our oil. She is our national treasure. She belongs to all of us,” Premier Wheatley said, adding that Hodge “doesn’t belong to one political party or the other” but to the entire Virgin Islands.
The Premier called for unity around all athletes, saying everyone must “do their part” to ensure they achieve great success.
Hodge’s discipline & humility highlighted
While praising the community’s role, Wheatley also focused on Hodge’s personal drive, noting that external support alone is not enough without self-investment.
“You can have everyone around you investing in you. But if you don’t invest in yourself, if when they tell you to get up early in the morning, you say, ‘Mommy, no, I’m not getting up. It’s too hard… you will never reach your full potential,” he said.
He commended Hodge’s work ethic, discipline, and respect for coaches, parents, and teachers, presenting her as a role model for young people across the Territory.
“I don’t care if you’re younger. I don’t care if you’re older. You want to know what it means to be globally successful? Look at Adaejah T. Hodge as a blueprint,” Wheatley said. “She is a blueprint for all of us—what it means to be excellent in our field and excellent in our areas.”
Historic Commonwealth gold
Hodge made history at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games by becoming the first female athlete from the Virgin Islands to win a Commonwealth gold medal in athletics, capturing the women’s 200m title in 22.07 seconds on July 31.
She had already set a new Commonwealth Games record in the 200m semi-finals the day before, running 22.01 seconds.
Her victory marked the Territory’s first-ever gold in the women’s 200m and added to a growing reputation for VI sprinting on the global stage.
Hodge is also an NCAA champion in the 200m indoors and outdoors in 2026 and has previously competed at the World Athletics Championships and Olympic Games.
Recognition ceremony and motorcade
The recognition ceremony on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, followed a motorcade that paraded Hodge and other Commonwealth Games athletes through Tortola, beginning behind the Central Administration Complex and ending at the Pier Park for a fan meet-and-greet.
The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs & Sports, the BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC), and the BVI Athletics Association (BVIAA) after an earlier postponement from the originally scheduled date.
Organisers and government officials used the occasion to thank the athletes for representing the Territory and to encourage continued public and private support for sports development.
Also at the recognition ceremony, Sixth District Representative and Opposition Member Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6) presented Hodge with the key to District Six on behalf of its residents.
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34 Responses to “Adaejah T. Hodge 'belongs to all of us'- Premier Wheatley ”
That's not what he's saying. All he said was to respect her accomplishments and support the athletes of the bvi. Is that too hard for you to do?
Wheatly - VIP
Myron - NDP
It was a stratigic get back - He aint been diong nothing for none the athletes THE LEAST!!!!!!
And make sure u come with facts to.
He has no drug history never been band so that alone has him in a class by him self 2 time diamond league champ back to back, 2 times gold medalist at the commonwealth games. Need I go on ???? One medal at a meat where she had no competition dose not and will not ever elevate her above McMaster. And in case you all forget he was also acknowledged for his accomplishments from the king so he know Carry the OBE title. Something she would never be able to attain because of her drug history.
So come better than that if u gon try to overshadow his accomplishments.
And the fact tha you want people to over look her DRUG SUSPENSION but yet u overlook Kyron accomplishments says everything I need to know about you as an individual. And for all ayo who think she was not aware of the drugs she was taking.
Ask her when she broke the world record in high school why did she and her coach pack up and left as soon as the race was over. And In case you’re not educated enough let me tell you how it works. Any time a world record is broken there are procedures to follow like an immediate drug test after said world record is broken. And this has to be done to legitimize the world record. They left and avoided the testing because they knew what would have came up. And that’s why to this day the record has not and will not be ratified. So before u come bang off your mouth do some research it’s free unlike stupidity that’s will cost you daily
Facts not fiction
Around the Caribbean this is the new norm!
VIP Government I implore you to do the right and just thing for our rising stars!!!
Put ayo $$$$$$$$$ whey ayo big mouths are!!! Not no damn ceremonial key that ain’t worth nothing….
We need to do things properly and stop making everything political. Once the current system in place to benefit all athletes says that she is entitled to money and land for her recent accomplishment then she should and will get it now or later. I think however that there has to be something in place for her and anyone getting these perks that if they subsequently lose the medal due to running afoul of competition rules they should return the money and land. We cannot forget that she already lost a medal due to drug usage. Now let’s turn to the other athletes who also medaled over the summer. Not watering down Hodge’s recognition but we need to ensure recognition is proper across the board. Of course all won’t be on the same scale but it is still necessary for fairness and encouragement and support of all medalling athletes . The public relations person dropped the ball here with the other medalliists but that was bound to happen because her focus is her client Minister and the upcoming election year and her focus is on the big accomplishment only and the fight amongst the politicians for grandstanding. My warning to athletics is to keep politics and politicians and their cronies out your sport.